Goodall urges world to stay connected to North Korea youth

Jane Goodall, a renowned chimpanzee expert and environmental activist, right, answers Prof. Choi Jae-cheon of Ewha Womans University during a talk held at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday./Yonhap

By Kim Se-jeong

Jane Goodall, the world's most renowned expert on chimpanzees and an environmental activist, urged the world to stay in communication with young North Koreans for environmental causes, despite recent threats from the North and international moves to isolate the regime.

"As the world gets more bad, the more important it is for young people to act. We need to encourage the young people, because it's their world tomorrow," Goodall said during a talk organized by the Asia Journalists Association, Thursday, at the National Assembly.

Goodall is in Seoul this week to receive Manhae Award.

Goodall, 83, is the founder of the Roots and Shoots movement, bringing young people together for environmental, conservation and humanitarian issues. The movement has spread to more than 100 countries.

She said the movement also exists in North Korea and she's been to North Korea twice to witness high school student activists. "When I was there two years ago, they were still flying a big peace pigeon made of bed sheets." Flying a big peace pigeon is the national chapter's annual campaign.

This is her seventh time in South Korea, mainly thanks to Prof. Choi Jae-cheon of Ewha Womans University, an expert on bats. As founder of the Biodiversity Foundation in Seoul, Choi is leading the Roots and Shoots movement in South Korea.

The primatologist said she was well aware of the pristine wildlife in the border area between North and South Koreas and its importance in terms of biodiversity. The area, 250 kilometers long and four kilometers wide, has been off limits to people since the Korean War was halted in 1953.

"There are other places like that. I've thought about it. All of them are under threat."

Many in the audience were children. A few politicians were also there to listen to her.

Born in London in 1934, she moved to Africa to realize her passion for chimpanzees. Africa has been her second home since then. She is known for her theory that individual animals have emotions and their own personalities.

Site Map E-paper Subscribe Register LogIn
Site Map E-paper Subscribe Register LogIn